NV test scores meeting the mark

Nodaway Valley officials have made concerted efforts over the past four years to provide the best supports they can for all students and have seen noticeable improvements in test scores, which are a key component to measuring student success.

Middle and high school master teacher Allie Kiburz said several signs of improvement within the district can be identified by looking at Nodaway Valley’s Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress test scores.

“They use this test as the big one for benchmark data for the state. It’s what contributes to our school report card. They use it to measure percentages of proficiency and that breaks down into sub groups,” Kiburz said.

Third grade through seniors take ISASPs, with all grades taking reading, writing and math, while fifth, eighth and 10th graders also take science, which will soon be an added category on school report cards from the state.

ISASPs are given each spring with the Formative Assessment System for Teachers test given three times per school year. The FAST tests are mandated through eighth grade, however NV also has high school students take them.

Orient-Macksburg also has reported strong test scores recently.

“FAST gives us our benchmark point to see if what we’re doing is working,” Kiburz said. “If we need to provide academic interventions for a kid, that kind of gives us a landing point for who qualifies and who doesn’t. If they’re improving and growing that justifies what we’re doing.”

Kiburz said test data isn’t always the easiest to understand because there is a lot to digest and break down.

ISASP accomplishments this spring showed eighth graders were 100% proficient or higher in English Language Arts and 96% proficient in science. The 11th grade class showed the highest average growth with a 38-point jump. The middle and high school students, across all tests, showed the highest average proficiency in four years of tracking. The fourth-graders exhibited a 16% hike in proficiency. Additionally, there was one fourth grader in math, one fifth grader in science and two 11th graders in math who posted perfect scores.

A more intensive effort in homeroom time to provide various academic supports for high school students who need it can be credited for a portion of the gains, Kiburz said. The middle school has been providing these types of supports for a few years and is also seeing the benefit.

The eighth grade being completely proficient is a big accomplishment, Kiburz said.

“That’s something that definitely doesn’t happen a lot,” Kiburz explained, saying that those teachers should be commended for the hard, focused work they put in.

Continued growth now hinges on teachers and students not growing stagnant academically.

“You’re always trying to do better, getting feedback from kids, teachers, seeing what works for them, what they enjoy. We have a lot of teachers who have been teaching for a very long time and it’s good to get their ideas as well,” Kiburz said. “It’s just constantly wanting to see that improvement and not being OK with being even the whole time, always trying to make yourself better with our intervention systems trying to motivate kids.”